NEC/Tufts

Overview

Students who wish to combine degree studies in music and liberal arts may apply to the NEC/Tufts University five-year dual degree program, which awards the Bachelor of Music degree from NEC and the Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from Tufts University. Tufts offers dual degree students the opportunity to major in any area except music and engineering.

In designing their program schedules, students consult with academic advisors at both institutions. They must complete all requirements at both institutions to qualify for either degree, and the degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

Students transferring from other institutions are not accepted into this program. Students wishing to end participation in the program may complete studies at either institution.

Student Testimonial

"The NEC/Tufts Dual Degree Program is a unique opportunity to be part of two amazingly dynamic, creative, supportive and inspiring communities. For me, the program has offered the ideal combination of a rigorous liberal arts education at Tufts and top-notch professional music training at NEC. This is an ultra-interdisciplinary experience--and an extremely rewarding one!

I’ve been stretched and challenged by the program in so many different ways. As a jazz piano performance major at NEC, I’ve gotten to study with some of my musical heroes - world-class musicians like Fred Hersch and Jerry Bergonzi - while playing in formal and informal settings with many of my peers, whose musicianship and creativity consistently inspire me. As an international relations major at Tufts, I've had the opportunity to pursue a field that excites and inspires me intellectually. My professors at Tufts have shown a commitment to teaching and engaging with students, while the teaching artists of NEC bring the same kind of passion and intensity to their teaching as they do their performing and composing. Developing meaningful relationships with my teachers at both schools has definitely been one of the highlights of the dual degree program.

A note about transportation: Tufts and NEC are a few miles apart. Fortunately, there is a campus-to-campus shuttle service! Running roughly ten times a day Monday through Friday, this free service makes commuting between the schools much easier.

In short, the dual degree program offers an amazing opportunity to be intensely engaged both intellectually and musically. The range of experiences, challenges, and ideas to which I've been exposed would not have been possible at one or the other school alone. At Tufts, I've been able to study abroad in Argentina for a semester, publish a seminar paper on climate change in an academic journal, and regularly hear scholars speak on a wide array of issues. At NEC, I've participated in many different ensembles, studied closely with some of my all-time favorite musicians, and begun to discover my own voice as a creative artist. Needless to say, this program is very challenging and at times complicated to navigate. But despite certain hurdles, I’ve been able to make this program work for me. If you’re passionate about pursuing you musical and academic studies at a high level, you could too!"